Education
The education in Cambodia has grown very slowly since the early 1900s. When Cambodia was under France's rule, France did not care about educating the Khmer people. The first high schools were set up sometime during the 1930s, and after Cambodia became independent from France in 1953 the education system began to grow even more.
During the time of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979, the government forbade students from going to school. Many people held private studies in secret. 90% of all teachers were killed and the remaining percentage fled the country or hid their identities.
Vietnam's occupation in 1980 affected the school systems in some ways. All lessons were biased to the Vietnamese culture, and schooling was only available to the wealthy.
Nowadays, schooling is very harsh for both teachers and students. Teachers face low salaries and very large classes. Students have to pay high fees for their education and sometimes must walk miles just to go to school. The illiteracy rate is still very high for both men and women and there are many organizations that are making big efforts to help Cambodia improve their literacy rate and improve the school systems in the country.
During the time of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979, the government forbade students from going to school. Many people held private studies in secret. 90% of all teachers were killed and the remaining percentage fled the country or hid their identities.
Vietnam's occupation in 1980 affected the school systems in some ways. All lessons were biased to the Vietnamese culture, and schooling was only available to the wealthy.
Nowadays, schooling is very harsh for both teachers and students. Teachers face low salaries and very large classes. Students have to pay high fees for their education and sometimes must walk miles just to go to school. The illiteracy rate is still very high for both men and women and there are many organizations that are making big efforts to help Cambodia improve their literacy rate and improve the school systems in the country.